# ThoughtTrace vs Lister

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lister at none against ThoughtTrace's 1. Lister also leads on ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). ThoughtTrace's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ThoughtTrace sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lister asks for nothing beyond the download.

ThoughtTrace ships an update every 3 weeks, Lister every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ThoughtTrace | Lister |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Size | 19 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JUNICHI WATANABE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1837543582) | [Myworkingmemory LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892099684) |

## What reviewers say

### ThoughtTrace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thoughttrace-brain-dump-notes/id6777566567)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Plan (Lifetime) | $4.99 | one-time |


### Lister

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lister-write-and-draft-notes/id6788844201)

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ThoughtTrace free?

ThoughtTrace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lister free?

Lister is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do ThoughtTrace or Lister have ads?

ThoughtTrace shows ads; Lister does not.

### Which is updated more often, ThoughtTrace or Lister?

ThoughtTrace ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lister every 2 months. Most recently, ThoughtTrace was updated on October 31, 2026 and Lister on October 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*